Steamboat Springs Colorado

Searching For Chiropractic Clinics Near You?

If you frequently deal with back pains, neck pains, spine, and sports injuries, you might be searching for the best chiropractic clinics near Steamboat Springs Colorado. Chiropractic care is considered a holistic and alternative treatment option that triggers the body’s natural healing abilities. It is a non-invasive treatment option where millions of Americans are benefiting at the moment. The approach is shown to treat more than a dozen of different conditions. One of the best things about chiropractic care is that the method is 100% drug-free and helps heal your body naturally. The treatment option is effective in dealing with headaches, back pains, ear infections, neck pains, joint pains, arthritis, bowel irregularities, blood pressure, asthma, improved mental clarity, and a host of other conditions. With hundreds of chiropractic clinics near Steamboat Springs, one should be cautious when selecting the best practitioner in the area. Here are important tips to consider when choosing the best chiropractic clinics nearby your location.

Despite the popularity of the treatment method, there are many misconceptions about the field of chiropractic care. Many patients are still confused when it comes to how the practice works and how chiropractic professionals are trained. In fact, most of the chiropractic programs incorporate an entire year of Ph.D.-level training in different subjects. Hence, a chiropractic doctor is a highly skilled and trained individual out there. Like with all other professions out there, there are many quacks operating in this industry too. That is why it is important that you perform extensive research before deciding to work with the right chiropractic doctor in your Steamboat Springs area. Your homework is essential to choosing the best candidate for the job.

Chiropractic Treatment Techniques

People experiencing lower right back pain may be wondering how in the world this isolated pain occurred. While lower back pain is very common, pain isolated to just the lower right side of the back only affects a handful of people. Here are some common reasons you may be experiencing lower right back pain.

Note: This article will discuss possible causes of the pain, not the diagnosis. It is important to discuss all of your medical conditions and concerns with a licensed healthcare professional.

While your isolated back pain could be caused from a variety of activities, there are three common causes that should be discussed.

Most people are right-handed and thus primarily use the right side of their body for most common activity. This consistent use can lead to overuse in the muscles and joints on your right side. Where do you carry your purse or carryon bags? If you are right-handed, you probably carry them over your right shoulder. Where do men carry their overstuffed wallets? Probably in their right back pocket. When they sit down this adds a lot of stress to their lower right back and unnecessary weight on their left side.

Muscles and joints that aren't moved and exercised daily become weak and inflexible. This means that when you do use them for a simple task, like washing the dog, it could cause you major discomfort in your lower right back.

The exercise and stretching you do, should not be too intense or difficult. They should not hurt or cause you discomfort, and you should never feel dizzy or nauseas. Taking a walk around your neighborhood, climbing stairs, touching your toes, and practicing yoga are all great ways to stay active and prevent this back pain.

For more detailed information on lower right back pain causes, prevention and treatment, please visit http://www.lowerrightbackpainhq.net.

Most of the wellness and health benefits associated with chiropractic care are due to the chiropractic adjustments received by the patients. These adjustments are important to place your body in the proper position so that it can heal itself. In fact, chiropractic adjustments help reduce the stress placed on the patient’s immune system. This will release energy that is vital for maintaining homeostasis and preventing diseases. The treatment option addresses the whole body of the individual thereby improving his or her ability to think and act more positively.

A professional Steamboat Springs Colorado chiropractor prides him/herself on taking a drug-free, natural approach to helping the patient improve his/her wellness and health in the long run. In fact, the entire principle is built on the basis that the body has an innate ability to heal itself under the right conditions. The chiropractic doctor will help create the right environment for the body to start healing itself. The practice focuses on keeping one’s spine properly aligned at all times. The nervous system controls every organ and cell in the body. Hence, if the spine shifts out of its proper place, it should be brought back into alignment without delay to prevent issues in the nervous system which can manifest as various diseases in the body. That is where a professional and experienced chiropractic doctor comes in handy.

Back Pain Muscle Spasms - Finding the Culprits

Chiropractors primarily use manipulation ("adjustment") of the spine as a treatment. Such treatments trace back to ancient China, Greece and Egypt.[1] It gained popularity in the late 19th century, with the development of osteopathic and chiropractic medicine in North America.[2]

Spinal manipulation (SMT) became more popular in the 1980s.[3] It includes manipulation and massage to "adjust" the spine and related tissues,[4] and is a primary basis of chiropractic.[5]Systematic reviews have not found evidence that chiropractic manipulation is effective for any medical condition, with the possible exception of treatment for lower back pain.[6] The safety of manipulation, particularly on the cervical spine has been debated.[7] Adverse results, including death, are rare.[8][9] Chiropractors may use exercise and other treatments and advice.[5]

Skilled, specific hands-on techniques, including manipulation and mobilization, are used to diagnose and treat soft tissues and joint structures, to reduce pain and to increase range of motion and general health.[10]

The approach is generally conservative, and treatment may include:

Chiropractors may also use exercise and other conservative treatments and advice.[5]

Lumbar, cervical and thoracic chiropractic spinal manipulation

The Chinese used such techniques more than 3000 years ago.[citation needed]Hippocrates also used such techniques[1] as did the ancient Egyptians and other cultures.

In the late 19th century in North America, therapies including osteopathy and chiropractic became popular.[2] Spinal manipulation gained mainstream recognition during the 1980s.[3]

In this system, hands are used to manipulate, massage or otherwise influence the spine and related tissues.[4] It is the most common and primary intervention used in chiropractic care.[5]

See also: Chiropractic controversy and criticism

Treatment is usually for neck or low back pain and related disorders.[11]

For acute low back pain, low quality evidence has suggested no difference between real and sham spine manipulation,[12] and moderate quality evidence has suggested no difference between spine manipulation and other commonly used treatments, such as medication and physical therapy.[12][13][14]

National guidelines vary; some recommend the therapy for those who do not improve with other treatment.[15] It may be effective for lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy,[16][17] as effective as mobilization for neck pain,[18] some forms of headache,[19][20][21] and some extremity joint conditions.[22][23] A 2011 Cochrane review found strong evidence that suggests there is no clinically meaningful difference between spinal manipulation therapy and other treatments for reducing pain and improving function for chronic low back pain.[24] A 2008 review found that with the possible exception of back pain, chiropractic manipulation has not been shown to be effective for any medical condition.[6][25]

The use of spinal manipulation for non-musculoskeletal is controversial. It has not been shown to be effective for asthma, headache, hypertension, or dysmenorrhea.[14] There is no scientific data that supports the use of SMT for idiopathic adolescent scoliosis.[26][27]

Spinal manipulation is generally regarded as cost-effective treatment of musculoskeletal conditions when used alone or in combination with other treatment approaches.[28] Evidence supports the cost-effectiveness of using spinal manipulation for the treatment of sub-acute or chronic low back pain whereas the results for acute low back pain were inconsistent.[29]

All treatments need a thorough medical history, diagnosis and plan of management. Chiropractors, must rule out contraindications to any treatments, including adverse events.

Relative contraindications, such as osteoporosis are conditions where increased risk is acceptable in some situations and where mobilization and soft-tissue techniques may be treatments of choice. Most contraindications apply to the manipulation of the affected region.[30]

While safety has been debated,[7] and serious injuries and deaths can occur and may be under-reported,[8] these are generally rare and spinal manipulation is relatively safe[12] when employed skillfully and appropriately.[9]

Adverse events are believed to be under-reported [31] and appear to be more common following high velocity/ low amplitude manipulation than mobilization.[32] Mild, frequent and temporary adverse events occur in SMT which include temporary increase in pain, tenderness and stiffness.[7] These effects generally are reduced within 24–48 hours [33] Serious injuries and fatal consequences, especially to SM in the upper cervical region, can occur.[34] but are regarded as rare when spinal manipulation is employed skillfully and appropriately.[30]

The relationship to stroke has been debated. Stroke is statistically associated with both general practitioner and chiropractic services in persons under 45 years of age, and these associations may be related to preexisting conditions.[35][36][37] Weak to moderately strong evidence supports causation (as opposed to statistical association) between cervical manipulative therapy and vertebrobasilar artery stroke.[38] A 2012 review found that there is not enough evidence to support a strong association or no association between cervical manipulation and stroke.[39] A 2008 review found chiropractic are more commonly associated with serious related adverse effects than other professionals following manipulation and concluded that the risk of death from manipulations to the neck outweighs the benefits.[8]

Diversified technique is a non-proprietary and eclectic approach to spinal manipulation that is commonly used by chiropractors.[43] The technique, as it is applied today, is largely attributed to the work of Joe Janse, D.C.[44][43] Diversified is the most common spine manipulation technique used by chiropractors, with approximately 96% of chiropractors using it for approximately 70% of their patients.[45][46] Diversified is also the technique most preferred for use during future practice by chiropractic students.[47] Diversified is the only spine manipulation technique taught in Canadian chiropractic programs.[48] Like many chiropractic and osteopathic manipulative techniques, Diversified is characterized by a high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust.[43] is considered the most generic chiropractic manipulative technique and is differentiated from other techniques in that its objective is to restore proper movement and alignment of spine and joint dysfunction.[43]

Atlas Orthogonal Technique is an upper cervical chiropractic treatment technique created by Frederick M. Vogel and Roy W. Sweat in 1979. It is a technique which uses a percussion instrument in attempts to adjust what is measured from specific X-rays and found to be a subluxation of the atlas vertebra, the top vertebra in the cervical spine. It is based on the teachings of B. J. Palmer, who advocated the Hole-In-One version of spinal adjustment. It is primarily used by straight chiropractors. Referring to the origins of upper cervical techniques, Dan Murphy, DC, DABCO, wrote: "Over the past 100 years, the practice of chiropractic has branched into dozens of specialty techniques. However, historically, for a third of this time, from the 1930s into the 1960s, the predominant practice of chiropractic involved primarily the upper cervical spine."[49]

Main article: Activator technique

The Activator Method Chiropractic Technique (AMCT) is a chiropractic treatment method and device created by Arlan Fuhr as an alternative to manual manipulation of the spine or extremity joints. The device is categorized as a mechanical force manual assisted (MFMA) instrument which is generally regarded as a softer chiropractic treatment technique.

The activator is a small handheld spring-loaded instrument which delivers a small impulse to the spine. It was found to give off no more than 0.3 J of kinetic energy in a 3-millisecond pulse. The aim is to produce enough force to move the vertebrae but not enough to cause injury.[50]

The AMCT involves having the patient lie in a prone position and comparing the functional leg lengths. Often one leg will seem to be shorter than the other. The chiropractor then carries out a series of muscle tests such as having the patient move their arms in a certain position in order to activate the muscles attached to specific vertebrae. If the leg lengths are not the same, that is taken as a sign that the problem is located at that vertebra. The chiropractor treats problems found in this way moving progressively along the spine in the direction from the feet towards the head.[50]

Although prone "functional leg length" is a widely used chiropractic tool, it is not a recognized anthropometric technique, since legs are often of unequal length, and measurements in the prone position are not entirely valid estimates of standing X-ray differences.[51] Measurements in the standing position are far more reliable.[52] Another confounding factor is that simply moving the two legs held together and leaning them imperceptibly to one side or the other produces different results.[53] Fuhr claims that properly trained doctors show good interexaminer reliability.[50]

In 2003, the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners found that 69.9% of chiropractors used the technique, and 23.9% of patients received it.[54] The majority of U.S. chiropractic schools and some schools in other countries teach the AMCT method, and an estimated 45,000 chiropractors worldwide use AMCT or some part of the technique.[50]

There have been a number of studies of AMCT, including case reports, clinical studies and controlled trials, but there are still unanswered questions. A few low-quality studies have suggested that the activator may be as effective as manual adjustment in treatment of back pain.[50] A single high-quality study has suggested that activator-assisted manipulation directed by leg-length testing was significantly inferior to manual spinal manipulation guided by palpation and was more similar to the use of paracetamol for the treatment of low back pain.[55]

Graston Technique (GT) is a trademarked therapeutic method for diagnosing and treating disorders of the skeletal muscles and related connective tissue. The method was started by David Graston and employs a collection of six stainless steel instruments of particular shape and size, which are used by practitioners to rub [56] patients' muscles in order to detect and resolve adhesions in the muscles and tendons.[57] Practitioners must be licensed by the parent corporation (Graston Technique, LLC.) in order to use the Graston Technique trademark or the patented instruments.[58]

Several examples of Graston treatment have been used in contact sports where scars and contusions are common.[59] However, the Graston Technique has not been rigorously scientifically tested and its evidence basis and assumptions are considered questionable at best. There are no high quality clinical trials that validate the efficacy of the Graston Techniques.[60]

Main article: Gonstead technique

The Gonstead technique is chiropractic method that had been developed by Clarence Gonstead since 1923.[61] The technique focuses on hands-on adjustment and is claimed to expand "standard diversified technique" by implementing additional instrumentation including X-rays, Gonstead Radiographic Parallel, a measuring device, and the development of Nervo-Scope,[62] a device said to detect the level of neurophysiologic activity due to the existence of vertebral subluxation based on changes in skin temperature.[63] Heat detector devices are unreliable and lack scientific evidence.[63] The technique gained popularity in the 1960s.[64] About 28.9% of patients have been treated with the Gonstead technique.[65]

Main article: Trigenics

Trigenics is a neurological-based manual or instrument-assisted assessment and treatment system[66] developed and patented by Allan Oolo Austin,[67]DC, DO, CCSP, CCRD. The technique originally began as a chiropractic technique, but is now practiced by osteopaths, physiotherapists and massage therapists.[67] The technique is relatively infrequently used by chiropractors compared to other chiropractic techniques such as Diversified, Trigger point therapy and Activator.[68]

The American Chiropractic Association states that there are more than 70,000 chiropractic professionals operating in the United States alone. With so many to choose from, finding “any” chiropractic doctor is fairly easy. But you don’t need “any” chiropractic when it comes to treating your condition. In fact, you want the “best” chiropractor in Steamboat Springs to treat your specific condition. This is a bit trickier than finding just any chiropractic doctor in the area. There are many things to consider when choosing the right professional to treat your condition.

When provided by a highly skilled and experienced professional, chiropractic care is quite effective in healing a wide variety of conditions. The right professional should have a combination of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and experience. A personal referral from someone you trust is a great starting point when searching for any type of professional near Steamboat Springs Colorado. Ask your existing health care team, friends, family members or co-workers for recommendations in this regard. You may also hop online and read patient reviews and surveys on professional chiropractors operating in your area. Make sure you do the homework properly before scheduling your first appointment with the potential candidate.

Don’t forget to check the credentials and experience of the potential candidate. Chiropractors are also known as doctors of chiropractic (DCs). They are highly trained professionals who have completed nationally accredited graduate-level programs. In addition to their 4-year undergraduate degree, a chiropractor should have a 4-year doctorate degree – similar to doctors of osteopathy (DOs) and medical doctors (MDs). Make sure the candidate you choose is licensed and a graduate of an accredited school of chiropractic. Evaluate his/her experience before you work with them. These are some of the most important things to look for when choosing the best chiropractic clinic in Steamboat Springs Colorado.